The National tribune., 1887-02-24

the family. 1t had been plainly declared. In
Isaac shall thy seed be called" Heb, IL Isl
And yet, without a single wavering of faith,
without q single manifestation Of pItcrual re-
belion, without a syllable of complaint AbEa-
ham proceeds to execute the command of God.
(26:5.) There is something heroic in the
straightforward manner in which Abraham re-
cciyed the order to sacrifice Isaac and the kind
of military spirit in which he set out 10 obey
instructions No wonder is expressed. No
questions are asked. No theories are advanced.
No notifications as to time, place or method
are suggested. Col ordered, and AbrJham's
business WAS to obey. Feeling seemingly played
no part in the matter Abraham understood
that his first duty was TO obey God. 1t is prob
able. of course, that Abraham had his theories
bat we cannot discover them We know he
did not act by mere mechanical practicalness,
but rather by faith. So st. Pau! said: "By
:aith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up
Isaac" Heb, IL III He had some sort or
degree of faith. He may have believed that
God who enabled Isaac 10 be born miracuOusIy,
could give another sou in a similar way to him.
self and Sarah, for the mother was still alive.
Or he may have believed that God would re-
store his son Isaac 10 him from the dead.
This order of God 10 Abraham to make
human sacrifice of Isaac has been criticized as
seemingly countcuancing the practice Of Offer
ing such sacrifices But probably one great OBJ
ject OF God was to impress just the opposite
lesson. NeighbOring heathen nations were
habituated to human immOlations. God would
stamp ont the practice By showing that the
sacrifice of suitable brnte animals instead of
the human was acceptable to God. FOrbiddiHg
Abraham to plunge the knife into Isaac he
practically forbade all persons ever doing such
an act. Furnishing a ram as q substitute for
the human sacrifice, God practically babe wor-
shippers everywhere and for all time up to
ChriStS cruCihXiOl TO use lower animals in
stead of human III worshiping. They who
from time to time have imagined God would
make parallel here and there in these days to
Abraham IN the matter OF Staying his son as q
victim for the altar overlook the fact that
Gods purpose in the command to Abraham was
to prevent any father ever imagining that
Heaven willed the Offering Of human sacrifice
So far as the incident ut Mt. MOriah was per-
sOaal to Abraham, IL taught him that the hu-
man sacrifices offered by the heathen were not
required it impressed on him the value Of
subjective religion as oatranking the external
forms; it magniiied faith, showing Abraham at
what great value God placed it: it endearcd
Isaac as having been snatehed from death or
restored from the grave; it exhibited the
FatherhoOd of God rs felt in the heart Of Isaac
/ father; it was proof of Gods proyidences in
| the hicks of time.
IL is very likely the proposed sacrifice Of
/ Isaac by Abraham has n look toward Calvary.
/ We can but think of God sending his Oaly-
/ bcgotten Son TO earth to be sacrificed hard by
/ the same Mt. Moriah. As Isaac carried the
| wood which was to be the instrument of his
/ death. so our Savior bore his cross over from
! the Court where he was condemned to Mt.
/ Calvary. (St. John, 10: H. What beauty in
\ St. John, 3: 10.
There is q significance in this incident for US
/ also. We were to be sacrificed, but Substitute
was found caught indeed in thicket, so bound
on the cross rs not to escape being victim. his
\ head covered with thOrns (St. Matt, 20 y
10. 3: 81 There is certainly some sense in
i which Christ died for US, or in our interest.
| These things" (Y. IL mean the birth OF
| Isaac, the dismissal OF Hagar and I5hmael,
I the treaty between Abraham and Abimeleeh,
/ etc. When it is said God did tempt Abra-
/ ham, (E. IT, we are not to understand that
/ God set out on purpose to lead the patriarch
/ into the sin of murder. The Revised Version
/ is more correct For tempt" it has "prove"
/ God wanted to put Abraham'5 obedience to a
! test. This was not so in order that God could
/ find out whether he would or not obey, but TO
| drill Abraham in the duty of obedience. But
more too. Gods object was TO establish grand
/ precedent, to furnish to thewOTld a splendid
! illustration Of faith aud trust and submission
Seemingly, at the age of 120 years. all chance Oi
| Gods promises TO Abraham as TO his descendants
turning out TO be true was TO be obliterated
But without one single tremoT, without raising
question or objection, as Though confident some
thing would be done consistent with all God
pledges. he sets out for Mt. MoriIh with Isaac
and wood, and knife, and flint, aud steel. He
had waited 100 years for Isaac's birth he had
enjoyed his presence, a father loves dear
and only son, for % years. Now came an order
. 10 -lsy him.
and we must not forget Isaac's part lie was
/ young man, vigorous, aud could have over.
come his father or fed from the altar. Abra.
ham probably made full explanation 10 Isaac
/ Aud the son did not resist. file extended him
| self on the altar and submitted to be bound
| hand and foOt-hOund not so that he could not
! escape, but that, when involuntarIly frenZied
with agony, me might not leap from the flames
III we praise Abraham, we must magnify Isaac
There must have been profound veneratiou foi
his father. There must have been a fila
obedience like that of Abraham to God.
| Thoughts:
l. God takes will for deed. (St. JAS, 2 21
Heb, IL III
p God prefers obedience to sacrifice. n Sa
10: %; Mic, 6:7, 81
3. Obey. (Gen., % D; St. James, 2: 1-23.
! 4. COnseerate all to God. (St. Matt. 10: 81
10: q, -; st. Luke, IL 26, SO Ro., 12:lJ
>. Learn the Office work OF trial, which is tC
strengthen our religious nature and confirm
our holiness.
g. As to bearing Of temptation, see Deu., S:2
Cor, 10: l3; Heb, II 10, IL; st. James, 1 g
/ IL; Pet, la.
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.